Doctor continues working despite conviction under PCPNDT Act

Acting against tainted doctors carrying out sex determination and illegal abortions in the state, the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) had suspended the registration of 17 doctors. But city-based Dr Mohan Bandopant Nagane, who was convicted under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PCPNDT) and suspended for five years, continues to be the medical officer of Shikrapur Rural Hospital. Activists protested against the doctor outside the rural hospital yesterday.

Kiran Moghe, who is national secretary of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) and president of the Maharashtra Janwadi Mahila Samity, and other activists demanded strict action against Nagane, who continues to be a government employee in spite of being convicted by a court and suspension of his licence for five years by the MMC.

“After a long wait and repeated complaints, the court had finally taken action against Dr Nagane, but to no avail,” Moghe said. “Even after conviction and suspension of his licence, he still serves as the medical officer of a government hospital, which is shocking. This will encourage other doctors to do the same and aggravate the problem of sex determination and female foeticide in the state.” According to activists, after the Beed’s Dr Sudam Munde was exposed in cases of alleged female foeticide, the MMC took action against Nagane.

On February 25, 2009, Nagane was booked under Section 23 (2) of the PCPNDT Act, but the appropriate authorities failed to take proper action. On December 15, 2011, he was convicted by the court and was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, but was jailed and still serves as a government employee.

Activists suspect the reason behind it all is Nagane’s strong political connections. They even said that the reason behind Shirur having the lowest number for the girl child up to the age of six years in the entire district might be illegal abortions and sex determination tests conducted by doctors like Nagane.

Asaram Khade, assistant director of the state family welfare bureau, said: “We have cancelled his (Nagane’s) licence and have forwarded a letter to the government asking it to take necessary action.” Till now, MMC has suspended the licence of 16 doctors till further court orders and removed the names of two doctors from its list for a period of five years.